KIM/MOS-Tech

From: Hans Franke <franke_at_sbs.de>
Date: Wed Sep 2 14:53:14 1998

>>> (Caveat: until someone comes forward to claim legitimate ownership.)

>> Jup, but acording to your ridiculous justice this means
>> bancrupcy for the next 3 generation to anyon of 'Us'.

> Not necessarily. I think some of this old technology could arguably be
> considered in the public domain, with companies having folded, owners
> having died, etc. Case in point: the IMSAI 8080. I think whatever
> vestiges of ownership of the IMSAI 8080 have been lost to time after the
> transformation into ComputerLand, the subsequent bankruptcy and then the
> re-birth of ComputerLand as Vanguard. This is what I gather after having
> read the book _Once Upon a Time in Computerland_.

In terms of copyright there is no thing like
'lost ownership' Copyright (and other intelectual
property) is always originated by natural persons,
And if any kind of licencee (company, temopral owner)
is closed and no legal successor is available the rights
return to the original Author/Inventor.

> Also, who owns the rights to the Altair 8800 now? Percom? ICOM? Ed
> Roberts? WHat happened after all the buyouts and bakruptcies?

Don't know, but they are not free.

Sad but true.

Gruss
H.

--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
Received on Wed Sep 02 1998 - 14:53:14 BST

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